$1000 bookshelf speakers with "recessed", "laid back" or "flat" mid-range?

What you are looking for is a line level integrated amplifier. Don't need internal DAC or phonostage.  Would't worry about bi-wiring. 

Great information here! Looking at those Warfedale 80’s and wondering what a good integrated amp or regular 2-ch amp would be. Currently using powered speakers connected to DAC running of my laptop. Addicted to streaming... I believe with the DAC, cable upgrades, I’ve squeezed all I can out of the Audioengine A5’s, so of course, here I now go down the rabbit hole even though these sound amazing. This is set up in an open back den. About 12 x15 with 8ft ceilings.

So, using a laptop and a DAC, is an integrated amp the way to go if connecting the Warfedales? Or just a regular 2-channel amp with an option for a sub?   Bi-wiring? If so, any suggestions for a good one under 1K? Music Direct has a little Rega for $595 that looks good for the desktop. Not sure I need the "integration" part.  No cd/turntable being connected and no fancy streaming devices other than my laptop. If it helps, I'm using the Chord Qutest DAC.
Thanks in advance!  

Revels

I found that a lot of comments here give wrong impression how a speakers sound, no you don't recommend the speakers because you know how it sound directly, rather you know it sound like that because you have your own matching, yes generally a speakers brand sounding tend to bright/neutral/warm side, but we do not take that for granted. With my current setup audio chain Fostex HP-A3 DAC/preamp > Class D Audio SDS-470C power amp, over the years I've concluded an excellent tonal balance can be achieved through the speakers Wharfedale Denton 80th, not the 85th take note, and I don't judge whether it sound neutral/bright/warm on the speakers model alone, I can only tell from my current setup, it's very engaging and powerful sound, neutral or warm seem not the right word to describe the sound, I can feel the atomic sound particle that melt my heart when listening to the Denton, yet the sound is also very resolving when come to details, yet the sound can rocking good in terms of bass presentation. Other gears I've experienced include NAD M22 v2, Elac Debut B6, Klipsch RP-600M, Wharfedale Diamond 220, Wharfedale Evo 4.2, Yamaha A-S801, NAD 3020i, Monitor Audio Bronze 2, Marantz PM6005, Kanto YU6, Audinst HUD-MX1, JDS Labs ODAC, JDS Labs Objective2, JDS Element, Sonus Faber Sonetto I, Q Acoustics 3050i, Wharfedale Diamond 9.1, PSB Alpha B1.

Quad S2.  Smooth natural sound and no harshness with the ribbon tweeter.

I love my Wharfedale 225. I can listen for hours with no fatigue.  I'm buying a second set...... Everything else gives me a headache. 

Goldenear Aon 3. 

Too bad you don't have an extra $1500 or so to spend.  Harbeth makes a line of speakers that are quite easy to live with.

Hey guys, 
Found a crazy good deal on a pair of Definitive Technology D11. I read great reviews and none mentioned these speakers being forward. In fact, I saw they have a great almost flat response. I think they'll pair well with the Yamaha integrated. We'll see. Cheers!

I own the Canton 9.2’s. Very musical and just a bit on the warm side with crazy bass for their size. Image very well and sound very natural.

you can still get them NOS for $1400, but they were original $4000 10 years ago. 

I don't think they are bright, in fact, the top is not "lively" at all. I think the UB5's have a very forward midrange (e.g., voices, guitars, etc, sound way in front of other instruments and at a relatively higher volume than the rest of the music), which becomes very prevalent at moderate to high volumes. Thanks for the suggestion on the Vandersteen speakers!

If you think ELACs are bright don't try to fix them.  Vandersteen VLR does this for $1500 a pair but worth a listen even if it is a stretch. 

Ref 3A de Capos  92db  no crossover

Vienna acoustics Haydn 

I will take a look at those Rega speakers. Good reviews overall. Thanks for the suggestions guys!

leemaze,

"Rega RS1 are nice, detailed and mellow. I have them with the A-S801 currently."


I'll second that.

No deep bass and flimsy grilles but the rest of it is as good as I've heard in a small speaker. I know it sounds like a fault but they have a way of singing as if the sound coming from inside the cabinet is joining in with sound coming from the drivers.

They, then no longer sound like small speakers. I don't currently use mine but I don't want to part with them.

I've not heard any of the Ascend speakers but from all the mentions they're getting here and what little I know about them they too seem worth checking out.

Spendor SP-1.

Testrun, yes, I am keeping my eyes open.

I've been looking at a new pair of Ascend Acoustic Sierra-1 (~$700).... 

Might sound crazy but I would look for a used pair of ProAc bookshelf speakers.  

Thanks guys!!

I think the Diamond 11.1 or 11.2 would be a great choice.  But the older Diamond 225 just sort of hit a sweet spot in their lineup.  I'd still recommend the 225 or the Denton 80 (not the 85).  But overall, the affordable Wharfedales share a fairly warm, easygoing sound.  The only models that were generally considered to be bright or forward were the Jade series.
 

Vandersteen 1B or 1C.Efficient@90db.It's got a huge soundstage and very smooth.Even know it is a floorstander it is 36" high and 10" wide.Also about 10 inches deep.One of the internet mags gave it a  top 5 speaker choice but I can't remember who.I've seen them for about 300.

Thank you guys! I have not decided yet. What about the newest Wharfedale Diamond 11.1 or 11.2? I read good reviews about them, and they seem to be laid back, but detailed.

Linn stuff are all pretty laid back. I own Linn Majik 109 bookshelves for laid back listening (jazz) and own elac vela bs for forward detailed listening (female vocal and chamber). Majik 109 retails for $1690 but I am sure you can find used close to $1k.

I think the Wharfedale Diamond 225 would be perfect (and quite affordable).  I really enjoyed it - warm, listenable, laid back soundstage. I think it has a slightly bigger sound than the Denton 80, but the Denton 80 is also a fantastic bargain with similar sound characteristics.  The treble is a bit more resolved in the Denton 80 (but not bright or forward).

Good luck, and let us know what you decide on!
Scott

Seas A26 is probably the best suggestion so far soundwise.

Dentons and Lintons are another good option.

I find Whareldale has a warmish sound in line with what you describe.  You can get Wharfedale Jade 3s used in your price range and they are awesome speakers.

paradisecom, thanks! and thanks to the other suggestions as well. 

I play all types of music on mine and I really like them. I purchased my current set used. 

Where can Vienna Acoustics be purchased online? 

Rega RS1 are nice, detailed and mellow. I have them with the A-S801 currently. 

This is an awesome thread.  Been looking for something similar in a floor-standing speaker.  Looking at Ohms right now because I heard they are pretty laid back.  

Will look at a few of the other suggestions too.  

paradisecom, thanks for the suggestions! Are they good for rock?  

Vienna Acoustics Haydn Concert Grand or the Webern
Sonus Faber Concerto or Concertino. 

i know what you mean about the presentation of Elac speakers. I compared them to B&W and much prefer the gentle and laid back sound they give. no reason to buy new. Used are great

Thank you guys for keeping the suggestions coming!
I was seriously considering the Wharfedale Denton, because I read good reviews and they look gorgeous. Most reviews talk about how delicate the top end is and how sweet the midrange is; however, according to this guy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuvTGNfOj8Q), the presentation of the midrange in the Denton is more forward than in the LS50. So, the speaker is smooth, but forward. Have you experienced that?

Buchardt S300
Focal Chora 806
Revel M16
Wharfdale Denton

I second the Wharfedale Denton's. I own them and love them. The least bright speaker I've ever heard. They are on constantly in my kitchen setup. I never tire of them. And the low end out of that 5 1/4" driver is ridiculous. I also own the Martin Logan 15's and they are now for sale. Super bright compared to the wharfedales. Running off of a Jolida 502a. 60w tube amp.

The only Wharfedale I’ve been able demo,was the Reva 1 . My brother has a pair,and he’s running it with a Yamaha integrated. Very smooth speaker. Nice detail,but definitely not bright. I could live them without a doubt. 

Wharfedales are what you need...Denton's or the 225's....

Yes, the Yamaha delivers 100W at 8 Ohm and close to 150W at 6 ohm.

Absolutely, they are not hard to drive speakers. They rate very honestly their nominal impedance at 6 ohm (unlike many other manufacturers) but they never drop below 4.  The sensitivity is also above average, 88db for the bookshelfs and 91db for the floorstanders. I drive them on my hybrid Pathos Classic One MKIII which is rated at 70wpc without any problems.  Your Yamaha if I remember correctly is even more powerful rated at 100wpc . 

celestial__sound Thanks!! Tool is my favorite band of all time! I will definitely consider Q Acoustics! Cheers

My amp is a Yamaha A-S801. Do you think it would be a good match for the 3030i or 3050i?

@luciano33 You may want to look at the Q Acoustics line of speakers. They are known for their laid back character but yet very expressive and dynamic. My previous speakers were Klipsch RP600M and I had the same issues as you. For example, I couldn’t crank the volume up on Tool - Parabola on my favorite part because It was always a headache to listen on a loud level, although my room is medium to large (38square meters). I replaced the Klipsches for Q Acoustics 3050i and now I can listen to any song at any level of loudness. There are many reviews on the internet speaking of Q Acoustics 3000i series, but I’ll highlight you few things. They have a very good low extension, have very warm full-bodied midrange and very sweet silk dome tweeter. If you can stretch your budget for the concept series you’ll be even more pleased. They compete with a speakers 10 times more expensive. This is a quote from John Atkison from Stereophile about the Q Acoustics Concept 300 (3999$) .

https://www.stereophile.com/content/q-acoustics-concept-300-loudspeaker-page-2

This is not surprising, as these speakers stepped out of the way of the music in a manner I have only experienced from more expensive models, such as Wilson’s Alexia 2, Magico’s S5 Mk.II, and KEF’s Blade Two, to name three speakers that I have reviewed in the past few years

I use older Sonus Faber Concerto that I bought used.  I see them often on Ebay in your price range.  They are very warm/laid back.  I have a sub, but don't use it always as their bass is adequate. 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I rather have something with a different sound. I think what you propose will only work if I am sitting only at the sweet spot. The thing is, these are in my living room, so I listen to music in different situations, and I am not always sitting down at the sweet spot. Funny thing is, I can hear the forward sounding nature of the speaker in many different listening positions. I also experimented with speaker position, different gear, room treatment, etc. Nothing made a significant change to the forward presentation of the Elac UB5. I know I can hook up an equalizer and tame the midrange, but that's not the route I'd like to go.

I suspect that you will be able to achieve your goal by simply changing the angle of rake that your speakers are currently at. All you have to do is raise the front of the speaker some and the sound will mellow out. Good luck

Thank you guys so much for the suggestions! I wanted to add that I will be pairing bookshelves speakers with a sub (RSL Speedwoofer 10S). I listen to a lot of different types of music, from delta blues to heavy metal.

I am making a list, and so far I have from you:
Definitive Technology D11
Revel Concerta M16
Spendor SP/2, S 3/5
Polk Lsi M703
Vandersteen 1C
NTH Classic 3
Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand
Canton Vento 836.2
Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2

What about these?:
Dynaudio Excite 14
SVS Ultra
Martin Logan Motion 35XTi

Cheaper options:
Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1
PSB Alpha 5 (cheap, but with great reviews)
Klipsch RP-600M (I have not read a review about them being forward in the midrange)
Focal Chorus 706
KEF Q150
Quad S-2

You might like NHT classic 3 speakers.